ASSESSMENT OF OPTIMUM TIP SPEED RATIO OF WIND TURBINES
N.S. Çetin1, M.A. Yurdusev2, R. Ata3 and A. Özdemir1
1
Ege University, Mechanical Engineering Department, Bornova, İzmir-Turkey.
2
Celal Bayar University, Civil Engineering Department, Manisa-Turkey.
3
Celal Bayar University, Electrical Engineering Department, Manisa-Turkey.
Abstract -The first thing to do in wind turbine blade design is to select tip speed ratio.
Generally speaking, the speed ratio depends on the profile type used and the number of
blades. Various speed ratios could be chosen for different types of profiles with
different number of blades. Therefore, an optimization procedure should be applied to
find the best ratio since this directly affects the energy generated from the turbine and in
turn the investment made. This study presents a procedure to assess the optimum speed
ratios for various profile types used in practice with various numbers of blades.
Keywords: Wind turbine, design tip speed ratio, turbine blade, power factor.
1. INTRODUCTION
Wind is an atmospheric phenomenon that occurs as a result of the movement of
air masses from where there is relatively higher pressure to low-pressure areas. The
high-pressure areas in the atmosphere are also relatively colder then low-pressure
places. During this movement, the heat energy transforms into kinetic energy.
Winds can be classified according to their blowing patterns: The first group
blow in certain times of the year and can be called discrete winds. Monsoons and
tornados can be given of example for this group. The second group consists of winds
blowing all year continuously. Alizes move from the high-pressure band in southern
part of the world towards the equator, which is a low-pressure zone. On the other hand,
counter-alizes blow otherwise. Besides, there are winds blowing continuously from sea
to land and vice versa. These winds develop due to the temperature difference between
the air masses over sea and land. There is also another wind called fohn, which takes
place in mountainous areas. Meeting with a mountain, a mobile air masse gets colder
0,5 0C for 100 meters elevation when it climbs the mountain and vice versa.
A wind turbine transforms the energy of the wind blowing trough its blades into
mechanical energy. It comprises manly three parts; turbine blades, turbine body and
turbine mil that is connected to the gear box which is subsequently connected to a
generator by a rotary shaft. A tower carries all these equipment, which form the wind
power plant.
Wind turbines can be classified as to whether they use resistance or uplift forces,
whether the turbine axis is horizontal or vertical and the number rotation at the same
wind velocity. In resistance turbines, there is a flat surface which rotates due to the wind
pressure applied, whereas wind comes towards the blade by an angle in turbines
utilizing uplift forces. The uplift force that takes place normally to the direction of wind
velocity produces the rotation in this type of turbines. There is high pressure before the
surface whereas low pressure after it.
Another classification for the wind turbines is made based on their nominal
power values. Those having power values up to 5 kW are called small-power turbines
whereas those with more power values are large power ones.

n being the number of rotation of turbine mile in a minute.S. For example. 1 yields. Çetin. Raf-15 and NACA
2212 [1-2]. since it can take different values as to
the type of profile and the blade number.2. the optimum ratio is suggested as 7 [1-2]. POWER FACTOR
The circumstantial speed in meter per second (m/sec) of a blade element of a
wind turbine located at a distance from the cent can be expressed as. However. Pr. can be expressed as the ratio between the power in turbine mile.
π
nr
( m / s)
(3)
30
The speed ratio or the end velocity ratio is then can be defined as
V
λA = ç
(4)
Vr
where Vr is the wind speed. should not necessarily between 6 and 8. LS-1.
P
CP = P
(6)
Pr
The power generated in Watt by kinetic energy of the air flow passing through a circle
with a radius of R before the turbine surface can be stated as. and that due to kinetic energy of wind before the turbine surface. which is.
this becomes
πn
(2)
ω=
30
Substituting Eqn. Clark Y. These losses are
Vç =
. Besides. firstly the parameters affecting the power factor that can be defined
as turbine yield are analyzed. Gottingen-398.
(1)
Vç = ω r
where w is angular velocity.148
N.
In this study. The reasons why the real
productivity is less than the theoretical one are the losses that are not considered in
theory.
2. From the Eqn.
Pp. The numbers of blades considered are 1. C-80. 2 in Eqn. Cp.5926 which is called the Betz limit and the productivity
obtained in practice can be 45 % at the maximum [5].3 and 4. Yurdusev. for a grid connected wind turbine
with 3 blades. This is
recommended to be between 6 and 8.A. M. Özdemir
Assessment of tip speed ratio is key to wind turbine blade design. R.
πr n
(5)
λA =
30 Vr
The power factor.
1
Pr = ρπR 2Vr3
(Watt ⇒ Nm / s )
(7)
2
The maximum power factor is 0. M-6. Then the optimum speed ratios are determined for
different types of blade profiles with several number of blades The profile types
selected are NACA 4415. Ata and A. as it will be explained later the energy
produced is directly related to the speed ratio selected and its choice deserves a careful
selection process. the speed ratio is
dependent upon the profile type used and the number of blades the turbine has and
therefore. (3) and (4) λA can be written as.

The Cpschmitz -λA curve is
given in Figure 1 and the numerical values associated with this diagram in Table 1.
(8)
η profile = 1 − (λ A / ε )
where ε is the number of slip(slide) and can be expressed as the ratio of the uplift force
coefficient of the chosen profile CL to resistance force coefficient CD which is
C
ε= L
(9)
CD
The end losses: In the end of a blade. The whirlpool losses can be calculated by Cpschmitz -λA diagram given by
Schmitz [2] if the same profile is used throughout the blade.3
0.1
0
0
2
4
6
λA
Figure 1 : Cpschmitz-λA curve
8
10
. This can be
considered using. Coupling with the airflow coming to the blade.5
0. In the calculations.
Blade number losses: In a turbine with more than four blade. the air movement
through blades gets complicated and its theoretical analysis can not easily be made.4
0.2
0. this
airflow generates a gradually widening.
Therefore. the resistance force was neglected. there takes place on airflow from the lower side
of the profile to the upper side.6
Cpschmitz
0. this can be considered as
The whirlpool losses: According to the Betz theory the wind does not change before
and after the turbine plate.λA
0. However the air mass encountering the blade changes its
direction. the theory of Glauert-Shmitz previously mentioned applies to the turbines
with four our less wind turbine blade.Assessment of Optimum Tip Speed Ratio of Wind Turbines
149
• profile losses
• end losses
• whirlpool losses
• blade number losses
The profile losses: In equation (6).7
0.
Cpschmitz
.

M-6.ε).537
0.150
N.6 becomes.400
0.5
6
6. M.
4.3 and 4
and Figures 2.5
1
1.570
0.3 and 4 for NACA 4415.
The optimum power factor as to the parameters considered is then be obtained.5
4
4.531
0.5
5
5.ηend (λA.541
0.5
3
3.538
0.565
0. CONCLUSIONS
The assessment of optimum design speed ratio of wind turbines is investigated
for different type of profiles with different configurations. Yurdusev. The
curve for optimum power factor for each type is presented in the associated profile type.ηprofil (λA. the power factor given in Eqn.
LS-1.572
0.547
0. C-80.238
0. The types considered include NACA 4415.553
0.556
0.568
0. 10 and15 degrees. Clark Y.544
0. Having analyzed the findings
of this study. RAF-15 and NACA 2212.475
0.562
0.5
7
7.574
3.
Cp= Cpschmitz(λA). This study has also
. Özdemir
Having considered all the losses mentioned. PARAMETER INVESTIGATION
In this study. The investigation
was made for the blade numbers 1.5
2
2.5
8
8.A.515
0.550
0. The
values of all variables according to the parameters above are given in Tables 2. 5. 3 and 4 and angels of 0.5
9
9. Gottingen-398. 2.5
10
CPschmitz
0
0.559
0. it can easily be said that the optimum design speed ratio for every profile
is different rather than being 7 as pointed out in related literature. Ata and A. LS-1 and Clark Y type turbines respectivelly. R. Çetin.S.z)
(10)
Table 1: Cpschmitz-λA values for whirpool lossess
λA
0
0. to the optimum design speed ratio of a wind turbine is investigated
for the profile types mostly used in practice.